TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Try as he might, with his offensive line getting pushed backwards or thrown to the side, LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette could hardly find room to maneuver against the stiffest defensive front he’s faced all season.
With Fournette seemingly eliminated from Saturday night’s top-5 showdown with No. 4 Alabama, so went the No. 2 Tigers’ (7-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) bid for a perfect season.
The Crimson Tide (8-1, 5-1 SEC) held the fourth-ranked LSU rushing attack to 54 yards, while being buoyed by 210 yards on 38 carries by Alabama junior running back Derrick Henry on its way to 30-16 win at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The victory was the fifth-straight against LSU, dating back to 2012 BCS National Championship game. 
The trip to a raucous Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was the first time LSU had played away from home since the Sept. 26 win against Syracuse, something that could have factored into his offense’s performance, LSU coach Les Miles said. 
“The offensive line faced a very talented and capable defensive line in Alabama, so they were tested,” Miles said. “We have to function better rather than have five-yard penalties because we were out of time. It’s just maybe not being on the road as often as we have been in normal seasons considering the South Carolina game was back at home.”
“I didn’t prepare them as well as I could for the road.”
Though he punched in a fourth-quarter touchdown, Fournette managed just 31 yards on 19 attempts, being tackled behind the line of scrimmage on five different carries. It was the first time the Heisman candidate failed to notch at least 150 yards this season, and it marked his lowest output since gaining only nine yards on five carries against Arkansas in Week 12 of last season.
For senior offensive tackle Vadal Alexander, the lack of success on the ground is befuddling. 
“I think we blocked the majority in the run game pretty clean up front,” Alexander said. “I just don’t know exactly what happened when the ball got to the next level or the ball got past the defensive line. I’m not really sure, to be honest with y’all. It felt clean from my part a lot of times. I’ll be able to answer that better after I watch film.”
On top of the offensive line woes, sophomore fullback J.D. Moore left the game late in the second quarter, appearing to reinjure his left knee. Saturday was the first time Moore had returned to action after going down in the Oct. 10 win against the Gamecocks, but Miles said Moore had an “awkward feeling” and didn’t want to risk further injury.
Meanwhile, Henry, the less heralded Heisman Trophy candidate from the SEC, propelled the Tide offensive attack, scoring all three of his team’s touchdowns and gaining 119 yards in the second half. His late third-quarter touchdown run extended Alabama’s lead to 17-points, an insurmountable lead for an LSU offense without a running game.
“We missed a lot of tackles,” said sophomore safety Jamal Adams of Henry’s outing. “As a defense, we have to get better. That’s no excuse. He’s a big back [and] a great back as we see. We have to rally.” 
The Tigers totaled just 182 yards of offense for the game with most coming from the arm of sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris, who went 6-of-19 for 128 yards and a touchdown.
But LSU accumulated a measly 55 total yards in the second half, and Harris’ first pass attempt of the half was intercepted, his first interception of the season. The turnover yielded Henry’s second touchdown of the game, giving the Tide a 20-10 lead early in the third quarter. 
Harris tied a school record for most pass attempts without an interception, but Miles said his quarterback erred on that read.
“If Brandon Harris would have just ran the edge, that’s a different play,” Miles said. “I think that’s some growth there that needs to take place on offense.”
Most of LSU’s yards through the first half came on two big pass plays. But after falling behind 10-0, a critical LSU drive on the ensuing possession kept the game from getting out of the Tigers’ reach early.
On the first possession of the game, Alabama senior quarterback Jake Coker directed the Tide offense into LSU territory, facing a fourth and one from the Tiger 31-yard line. But sophomore safety Jamal Adams sniffed out the Coker’s quarterback keeper, tackling him behind the line of scrimmage for a turnover on downs.
LSU, though, was unable to make good on the early momentum as Harris was sacked on third and eight, forcing a punt.
The two teams would trade punts, ending the first quarter with no score. The Tide got on the board first after a 15-play, 87-yard drive, finishing with a 22-yard field goal from junior placekicker Adam Griffith.
Alabama added to its lead on the next possession, aided by a 40-yard scamper from Henry to the LSU two-yard line. The junior tailback punched in the score on the next play to give the Tide a 10-0 lead.
With Fournette struggling, Harris and the LSU offense showed life on its next possession. After a 15-yard facemask penalty that moved LSU close to midfield, the sophomore signal caller found junior receiver Travin Dural for a 40-yard touchdown five players later to close the cap to 10-7.
The Tigers forced a three-and-out on the next Alabama possession, allowing Harris to guide a six-play, 45-yard drive, which would end in a 39-yard field goal from junior kicker Trent Domingue. A Tide pass interference penalty would help push the Tigers into Alabama territory on the drive.
After the ensuing LSU kickoff went out of bounds, Alabama was able to close the half with a 55-yard boot from Griffith to regain the lead heading into the locker room.
LSU now heads back to Baton Rouge for another division contest against Arkansas next Saturday, beginning at 6:15 p.m. on ESPN.
“This football team is much better than they showed tonight,” Miles said.